Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1:  Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2:  Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

DANVILLE, Va. -- The 21st-ranked Christopher Newport softball team swept a road doubleheader on Friday, dropping Averett University (12-18, 6-10) in USA South action, 3-2 & 7-3. The Captains improved to 19-10 overall with an 11-2 record against league opponents, as senior Krista Townsend (6-4) struck out 10 in one of her finest performances of the season.

The top of the order had a great day for the Captains, as rookie Meagan Jones and juniors Candice Zollars and Kelley Foate for 13 hits in the doubleheader sweep. The trio reached in the top of the first inning of game one, with Jones and Zollars coming around to score on a Sabrina Hill RBI groundout and a Kristina McLaughlin RBI single. 

With a 2-0 lead in hand, senior Whitney Haller retired the first six batters with ease. In the third inning, though, Averett would score a run to cut the lead in half. Kayla Renn came around to score an unearned run after a two-out double from Jenna Rudder. Haller would get two outs in the fourth before coming out in line for the win. She finished with 3.1 innings pitched, just one hit allowed and the lone unearned run on the board. 

An Alexis Pope solo home run in the top of the fourth provided the much-needed insurance run to preserve Haller's win. Senior Elizabeth Holte was called on in relief, and put together one of her strongest outings of the year for her first save. She tossed the remaining 3.1 innings against the Cougars, allowing just one run on three hits, striking out a pair.

Townsend went the distance in game two, giving up three runs but striking out a season-high 10 with just one walk. She fell behind, 2-1, after the first inning, but the CNU offense responded with two in the top of the second to give the senior right-hander the lead for good. 

Taylor Dillow led off the inning with a double down the line, and was replaced by a pinch runner, Brooke Sarazzin. Then, after Averett starter, Amy Hamlett, got two quick outs, it was rookie Meagan Jones who stepped in with a big hit. Jones singled to left center field and came all the way around to score on a fielding error by the center fielder, giving CNU the lead, 3-2. 

In the fourth, Kristina McLaughlin picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, and CNU tacked on two more in the sixth when the top of the order again came through early in the inning to set the table for the Captains. Zollars and Foate put back-to-back singles into left center field, and scored on a wild pitch and groundout, respectively. Zollars capped her stellar performance with an RBI infield single in the final inning. She was 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI and two runs scored. Jones added a 3-for-5 effort, with three runs scored. 

For the day, Foate led the charge, going 5-for-6 with a double, two walks and one HBP. Zollars and Jones each added four hits in the doubleheader and the top three batters combined for eight of the ten CNU runs scored. 

Averett was led by Rudder, who had a five-hit day as well, with two doubles and three runs scored. Hamlett (3-5) suffered the loss in game two, while April Costa (6-8) picked up a complete game loss in the opener. 

CNU will return to action on Saturday, as they travel to Mary Baldwin College (2-24, 1-11). First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.